September 11, 2024

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Mark 8:35

Who is not interested in saving their lives, in making them worthwhile, full and rich, worth the living? Deep down within us, every one of us has a hunger for life and a desire to find it, to the full extent of what it was designed to be. This is what Jesus is talking about. If this is what you want, He says, I'll tell you how to acquire it. There are two attitudes toward life that are possible, and you can have only one or the other.

One attitude is to save your life now: hoard it, clutch it, cling to it, grasp it, try to get hold of it for yourself, take care of yourself, trust yourself, see that in every situation your first and major concern is, What's in it for me? That is one way to live, and millions are living that way today.

The other attitude is lose it: fling it away, disregard what advantage there may be for you in a situation, and move out in dependence upon God, careless of what may happen to you. Abraham obeyed God, went out into a land he knew not where, on a march without a map, apparently careless of what would happen to him. His neighbors reproached and rebuked him for not caring about himself. This is to be a way of life, Jesus says. Trust God, obey Him, and put the responsibility for what happens on Him.

There are only two results that can follow. If you save your life, if you cling to it, hoard it, get all you can for yourself, then, Jesus says, you will lose it. This is not a mere platitude; He is stating a fundamental law of life. You will find that you have everything you want, but you will not want anything you have. You will find that all of the life you tried to grasp has slipped through your fingers, and you have ended up with a handful of cobwebs and ashes, dissatisfied, hollow and empty, mocked by what you hoped to get.

But lose your life for My sake and the gospel's, says Jesus, lose your life by means of giving yourself away in the cause of Christ, giving up your right to yourself, taking up your cross and following Me, and you will save it. You will not waste it, but you will save it. You will find contentment and satisfaction, an inner peace, and a sense of worth about your living. You will discover, not just in heaven someday but right now, that even though you may not have all the things others have, your life will be rich and rewarding and satisfying.

This is God's part in the work of discipleship. Jesus did not come to call us to ultimate barrenness, weakness, darkness, and death. He called us to life, to richness, to enjoyment, to fulfillment. But He has told us that the way there means death. Discipleship ends in life, not in death. It ends in fulfillment and satisfaction. But the only way that we can find it is by means of a cross.

- copied

September Worship Greeters and Ushers:

Mike and Diane Rape and Ricky and Becky Steele

We need your help!!  On Thursday, September 12 at 7:00 pm we will be setting up the gym for Homecoming. If you can come out for about 30 minutes, we can accomplish this work together in a short amount of time!

Homecoming 2024 will be held on Sunday, September 15. Sunday School at 9:00 am and Worship from 10:00-11:15 am. Following worship, everyone is invited to bring items to contribute to the meal; meats, casseroles, side dishes, and drinks (a well filled basket). Rev. Mike Burgess will bring the sermon on this special day.   

All men of all ages are invited to our United Men’s Dinner and Meeting on Thursday, September 19 at 6:30 pm in the TFLC. The menu is smoked pork chops, pintos, and greens. Mr. Bill Stokes, a river keeper, will be our guest speaker.

The Administrative Board is asked to meet on Sunday, September 22 at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Members are: Tommy Middleton, Dennis Hall, Steve Moseley, Wanda Murphy, Jeffrey Thomas, Keli Thomas, Steve McDonald, Libby Morris, Hazel Robinson, Terry Robinson, Missy Snipes, Kristina Ray, Beth Craig, Becky Barton, Shawn Thomas, Cierra Hartley, Elizabeth Moseley, Susan Scott, and Dianne Sweatt.

Charge Conference is scheduled for Sunday, September 29 at 12:00 noon. All members of the Administrative Board are members of the Charge Conference and are urged to attend. This is an open meeting so any church member is also welcome to attend. If your committee has a praise report they would like to submit, please turn these in to the church office by Sunday, September 22.

You are invited to a baby shower honoring Courtney Broughton and baby boy Cash Wade on Sunday, September 29th from 2:00-3:30 pm at the drop off under the bus shelter. This will be a “drive through” style shower. They are registered at Amazon and would appreciate any size Huggies or Pampers diapers and wipes.

The Worship Committee is asked to meet on Sunday, October 6th at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Members are Beth Craig, Judy Payne, Carolyn Massey, Michael Mills, Dennis Hall, Rhonda Waters, and Becky H. Steele.

One of the large HVAC units in the TFLC is in need of replacement. This will come at a cost of $22,500. As our facilities age, they are just like your home, things need to be repaired/replaced and our Life Center is almost 20 years old. If you would like to make a donation above and beyond your regular tithe to help with the HVAC, please drop your donation in the collection plate and earmark them for HVAC by Sunday, September 15. If you write a check, please make your checks payable to Lynn McCray. These checks and donations will be held until work is completed. To be able to give you credit on your giving, the checks need to come through the church office.      - Zion’s Trustees

September is our month to support HOPE in Lancaster with donations of food for those less fortunate. Particular needs in September are: Canned Pasta, Sweet Peas, Oatmeal, Canned Tuna, Juice (64 oz), and Cereal. Please place your donations in the church collection box in the vestibule.

Our appreciation to Tommy Middleton for pressure washing the walkways at the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall and Educational Building. Our appreciation also to all the ones who came out and helped spruce up the church grounds and the placed pine straw out. Everything looks great!

Visitors on 8/25: Kathy Belk and Jeff and Daphnie Creech.

If you use the buildings, please be sure to lock the doors when you are finished. We have had several doors that have been left unlocked recently and we have had evidence of folks (not church members) being in and around the facilities. Please be sure to lock up so that the facility isn’t damaged and we don’t have any “stranger danger” incidents!! Also, you may wish to use more caution with locking your car doors, there was an incident during Vacation Bible of a vehicle pulling into the parking lot and someone was seen trying to open car doors. Thank you!!!

Special Gifts to Zion Church

In Honor of:

Terry Robinson by Judy Payne

Marcene Plyler, Carolyn Massey, and Barbara Hall by Darlene Hallman (Trustees)

In Memory of:

Myrtle Walker by Libby Morris, Barbara Hall, and Judy Payne

Michael E. Walters by Frances Robinson

September 11: Mr. and Mrs. Tony Broughton

September 12: Breanna Melvin

September 13: Carly Robinson, Dennis McAteer, Janice Bowers, Renee Plyler

September 16: Crystal McKenna, JoAnne Smith, Wade Adams, Drew Burn, Mark Whitley, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Everall

September 17: James Mackey

The Record Speaks....

Present for 9/8 Sunday School: 23

Present for 9/8 Worship: 60

Needed each week for General Fund: $4,313

Received 9/8 for General Fund: $2,289.14

General Fund Needs Year to Date: $155,268

General Fund Receipts Year to Date: $108,221.29

Received for Epworth Children's Home: $120

There are several options available to give to the continuing ministry and outreach of Zion UMC. You may give through Paypal on the website www.zionumc.com, text your giving to 803-525-1834 and follow the secure link, or if you are not comfortable giving online, you may drop your offering in the mail to Zion UMC at 1665 Zion Road, Lancaster, SC 29720 or drop off in the secure drop box that is located beside the double doors where the buses are. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Missy at 803-804-2434 or leave a message at the church office, 803-285-3864 and your call will be returned. Thank you for your continued support of the Mission that is Zion!!

"...because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in you put your hand to."

Deuteronomy 15:10